00:00Workers across the Philippines may finally see a break as House leaders move to fast-track a national minimum wage
00:06bill, aiming to close the long-standing gap between regions.
00:10From Leyte to Metro Manila, employees like Pasito Merezolas hope higher wages will let them return home, while lawmakers push
00:17for reforms to ensure fair pay and job security for millions.
00:21Vel Custodio tells us more.
00:26Pasito, a farmer from Leyte, decided to move to Metro Manila to look for a work in 1992.
00:32It was lower because of the time when I was there. You can grow it for 15 days a day.
00:40When I went to Manila, it was already 180. It's a big difference.
00:47According to him, now that job opportunities in Leyte are also increasing, if the wage in his province become at
00:54par with those in Metro Manila, he would rather return to his province and work there.
00:59Mas maganda sa probinsya, Tumira, kaysa dito. Kasi nandun, maka-tanim-tanim ka ng ano dun sa lupa mo, mga
01:08gulay, maano. Dito, wala. Lahat, bilihin.
01:11Meanwhile, Early has been a long-time resident in Quezon City. She has witnessed how the population in Metro Manila
01:17has continued to grow. She said that the area where she lives has also become crowded.
01:22Kulang din sa sahod, kulang yung minimum nila. Kaya pumupunta sila dito sa Maynila kasi mas mataas. Gaya ng mga
01:33construction, ibinibigay lang doon, nasa 450.
01:38Pero pagdating dito sa Maynila, umaabot na ng nasa 700. Medyo grounded na rin. Pero usually wala rin naman talagang
01:49magagawa eh. Talagang kailangan dahil sa kakulangan pa sa financial.
01:55House Speaker Faustino Bojiti III has issued a directive to fast-track the proposal that would establish a single national
02:02minimum wage and abolish original tripartite wages and productivity boards.
02:08Under the proposal, the authority to set wages will be transferred to the National Wages and Productivity Commission with the
02:15national minimum wage set at no less than the current rate in the national capital region, along with mechanism to
02:21ensure a smooth transition.
02:22The reform aims to narrow the wage gap across regions and establish a clear national wage floor for workers.
02:29House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairperson Joel Larevilla, along with several labor leaders, also formally submitted a manifesto and
02:37titled a manifesto calling for the prioritization of pro-workers legislation.
02:42The signatories, composed of workers, trade unionists, and labor advocates from various sectors emphasize that millions of Filipino workers continue
02:51to bear the burden of rising prices, depending on inequality, low wages, and job insecurity.
02:57The document expressed united support to the national minimum wage bill and calls on the House leadership to prioritize its
03:04passage.
03:04According to Kamangagawa Party's representative Elijah San Fernando, workers welcomed the directive to expedite the passage of the National Minimum
03:13Wage Bill.
03:14He described it as historic, saying it would finally address the wage inequalities or the wage gap across regions in
03:21the country.
03:22The House star gets to deliberate the measure at the plenary next week and pass it before the Labor Day.
03:28Vel Custodio for the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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